Chapter 100: The Place He Couldn't Reach
"How's that? My goal... wasn't it straight-up addictive madness?"
Shidou waited for Kira's praise with a face full of pride.
Kira offered genuine appreciation. "Impressive. As expected of the guy ranked right behind me."
Shidou's face twitched. Was this a compliment or an insult? He couldn't decide.
"That was insane. He's a total monster."
Nanase sighed in awe. They were all about the same age, yet how could someone be so overwhelmingly superior?
"Thanks, Nanase."
Isagi had retreated to Nanase's side, thanking him for his support earlier.
"Don't mention it. You're the only person here I can actually keep up with..."
Uh...
Isagi paused. Should he take that as praise or a jab?
"So, use me all you want, Isagi." Nanase had already decided on his playstyle for this match: cover and support Isagi.
"Yeah. Let's go."
Although Nanase's abilities were average, at least Isagi finally had some support.
'Next time, I'm definitely going to score.' Isagi swore silently to himself.
The match continued with Team B's kickoff.
Kira noticed that as soon as Karasu received the kickoff from Rin, he dribbled straight toward Isagi.
'This guy... his playstyle really is consistent.'
"You ordinary scrub. You're starting to become useful..."
Karasu spoke as he dribbled.
"As long as we break through you, we have a chance to turn this game around."
Seeing Karasu approaching, Isagi's expression turned grim.
'I can't let him pass!'
Isagi knew that his defense against Karasu was crucial right now.
"Isagi, stand down. Looks like you really enjoy picking on the weak, Karasu."
Just as Isagi was about to step up to defend, Kira blocked his path.
Kira looked at Karasu with intense fighting spirit. "I haven't had enough fun yet. Let's go a few more rounds."
"Tch..."
Karasu frowned slightly, his expression serious. "You... are you standing up for him?"
"That's a bit like throwing your weight around, isn't it?"
"Then do you dare challenge me again?"
"Heh..."
Anger flared in Karasu's eyes, a flicker of viciousness passing through them.
The shift in his rhythm screamed he was getting serious now.
In an instant, Karasu accelerated explosively.
Kira was caught off guard. Karasu had previously shown himself to be a steady player who rarely took such risky breakthrough attempts.
Kira was a half-beat slow.
But he still managed to force himself to keep pace.
As he moved, Karasu constantly used his hands to control the distance between himself and Kira.
Kira repeatedly raised his arms to neutralize Karasu's shoves.
The two tangled as they moved down the sideline.
The high-quality offensive and defensive battle left everyone else on the field dumbfounded.
Nanase stood frozen, watching the attack and defense of two Top 6 level players.
Karasu used every trick and deception in the book.
But Kira had eyes like a hawk, piercing through every trick.
Karasu felt the fight slipping from his hands and instinctively eased up.
They were almost at the baseline.
Kira had pressed Karasu's position so effectively that he couldn't dribble a single step toward the center.
"I have to hand it to you. You're incredibly sharp..."
Karasu looked at Kira with a hint of admiration. He had never been pushed this far before.
"You're not bad yourself."
Kira retorted, throwing himself fully back into defense.
Karasu knew that at this point, he couldn't leave without a victor being decided.
Karasu changed his rhythm, his right foot suddenly pulling the ball violently along the baseline.
Kira and Karasu accelerated almost simultaneously.
The two chased each other.
Karasu paused abruptly, using the inside of his left foot to cut the ball from behind him at the same time.
Then he turned to chase the ball.
Cut first, then pull!
Kira knew he wouldn't make it in time to fight for the ball, so he instantly reached out his hand to hinder Karasu's turning speed.
"Using my own move against me?"
That surprised Karasu.
'This Kira guy's a fast learner. He picked up my playstyle so quickly.'
Just as the two stumbled toward the ball...
Another foot joined the fray at the most inconvenient moment, intercepting the ball cleanly.
"Who?"
Kira and Karasu looked up simultaneously.
"An ordinary guy... actually popped out from my and Kira's blind spot?"
Karasu's eyes were filled with disbelief.
'This guy... hasn't given up on growing...' Kira felt gratified inside.
Isagi snatched the ball with a fierce expression.
'I got the ball! Counterattack!!!'
"Isagi! Nice!" Nanase shouted excitedly.
"You can pass here." Hiori signaled Isagi to look at the empty space in front of him.
Isagi understood and passed to Hiori.
Hiori passed it on to Nanase.
In an instant, Isagi, Hiori, and Nanase pushed forward in a rapid counterattack.
"Isagi. Dead end."
Rin hadn't expected Isagi to be the one disrupting the game in this situation. Suddenly, he appeared in front of Isagi.
Isagi glanced at Rin and, without trying anything excessive, immediately distributed the ball to Nanase, who was constantly hovering nearby.
"Close one!"
Nanase stumbled and almost failed to trap the ball.
Isagi broke out in a cold sweat.
Fortunately, Nanase wobbled but recovered, passing the ball to Hiori on the wing before Saramadara could close in.
"Feels good! Nice!"
After receiving the ball, Hiori immediately turned to scan his surroundings.
"Watch your front, Blue hair."
Chigiri came roaring in, his speed terrifying.
Isagi and Nanase worried for Hiori.
"You really are ridiculously fast..."
Taken aback by Chigiri's speed, Hiori carefully scanned the available passing positions.
"Send the ball to the front of the penalty area!!!"
The Penalty Area Monster was out again.
Behind him was the towering Shiguma.
Shidou didn't seem to care about anyone else, leaning back against Shiguma as if aiming to replicate his earlier goal.
Seeing this, Hiori wound up for the kick.
Shidou prepared to receive the ball with joy.
However, the ball's trajectory disappointed him.
This ball was for Isagi, who was making a run behind him.
"Ah, it flew over my head..."
Shidou felt a wave of irritation.
Isagi was ecstatic right now. He could see his goal in sight.
'Nice pass, Hiori!' Isagi praised Hiori internally first, then ran to the ball's landing spot and extended his leg to shoot.
Eh?
Isagi's heart filled with bitterness.
'Too short.'
You only notice when it counts. Isagi's stubby legs missed the ball—he whiffed it hard!
Ahhhhhhh!
Isagi mentally crumbled. This was a rare shooting opportunity!
Seeing this, the tall Shiguma immediately abandoned Shidou, rushed to the goal, and cleared the ball with a big kick.
"Grandma said, men are born for moments like this!"
Shiguma's highlight of the entire text was right now.
"No, it's not cleared!!!" Chigiri shouted anxiously.
Eh?
Shiguma's jaw dropped. Two figures were already tangled at the ball's landing spot.
Karasu and Kira were tearing at each other relentlessly.
Then they rushed toward the ball.
"This is why... I think geniuses are a pain in the ass..." Karasu complained with furious eyes.
"Then get out of the way, dead crow." Kira responded in a low voice.
"Go, Kira! Shoot!!!" Nanase shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Stop him!!"
Chigiri cheered for his own player.
Only Isagi unconsciously clenched his hands into fists.
He already knew the answer in his heart.
Kira would definitely win.
The place he couldn't reach.
Kira would definitely reach it.
--------
--------
A/n: Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you reach all your goals and have a great year ahead. I'm dropping 2 chapters today.
(Second Goal: 400 Stones = +1 extra Chapter)
So... Hand over all of your Power Stones!!
For advanced chapters (20+): patre o n. com/Demonic_Fiction